Taiwan opposition chief visits China

Taiwan's opposition leader Lien Chan (R) shakes hands with Chen Yun-lin, the Chinese official in charge of Taiwan affairs after his arrival at Nanjing airport Tuesday. Lien began his landmark eight-day peace journey to China yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Lien, the first chairman of the Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) to set foot on Chinese soil since 1949 when the party was toppled by the communists and fled to Taiwan, was lavished with red-carpet treatment and flowers upon his arrival in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing.

"Nanjing is not far away from Taipei in space, but it has taken more than 60 years for me to revisit this city," Lien told a crowd gathered on the tarmac, referring to the Nationalists' one-time capital.

"We are very happy to finally be able to make this historic first step, this visit. In order to reach this target -- peaceful and stable cross-strait relations -- the KMT is willing to make its efforts," he said.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has pointed an estimated 700 missiles at the democratically ruled island, making the Taiwan Strait one of Asia's most dangerous hot spots.

Tensions have been reignited by Beijing's enactment of an anti-secession law in March, which sanctioned non-peaceful measures against Taiwan should it push for formal statehood.

In Taipei, protesters called Lien "traitor!" and scuffled with riot police at the airport, infuriated that he appeared to be playing into Beijing's strategy of wooing the pro-unification opposition to alienate independence-leaning Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian.

Lien, whose KMT party supports unification with a democratic China, avoided the angry crowds who waved sticks, threw eggs, fired slingshots and lit firecrackers. Several protesters had bloodied foreheads.

Before leaving, Lien said he hoped to use this visit to understand developments on the mainland and exchange views with mainland leaders on peace, and cultural and economic ties.